Pregnancy Outcome in HIV Seropositive Women Booked at a Tertiary Healthcare Institution in South Eastern Nigeria

Background: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pandemic remains a major public health issue in developing countries with the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) being a key challenge. Various reports have been published on the effect of HIV on pregnancy with conflicting results. Objective: This was to determine the effect of HIV infection on pregnancy outcome among women booked for antenatal care at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi to provide a baseline for further studies. Methods: This is a retrospective study of cases of HIV in pregnancy managed between 1st January, 2006 and 31st December 2007, at NAUTH, Nnewi. Results: Out of a total of 2,960 pregnant women booked for ante-natal care within the study period and a seroprevalence rate of 10.5% was noted. Two hundred and fifty patients were included in the study. The majority, 170 (68%) of the patients were between 21-29 years and the majority also, 148 (59.2%) were of low parity (0-2). Only 181 (72.4%) of the patients had an entry CD4 count of = 500/ml. All the patients were on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) during the pregnancy. Maternal complications were encountered in 176 (70.4%) cases, anaemia being the commonest, 100 (40.0%). The commonest foetal complications were stillbirth, 26 (10.4%) and low birth weight 54 (21.6%). Sixty three (25.2%) of the women had puerperal complications. There was no maternal or perinatal death. Conclusion: The HIV sero-prevalence rate among pregnant women booked for antenatal care at NAUTH, Nnewi was high, but the effect of HIV on pregnancy was very minimal.